TALES FROM THE INDIAN PACIFIC - WEST TO THE INDIAN OCEAN

Sydney Central Station

There is an unabashed romance about overnight train journeys. The thought of crossing a continent in comfort while gradually taking in a changing landscape definitely has its appeal and we were thrilled at the prospect of a three-day train trip from Sydney to Perth on board the fabled Indian Pacific.

Twenty-three gleaming silver cars with two blue and yellow engines and car carrier pulled slowly out of Sydney Central Station. The train was so long, it had occupied two platforms and once passengers had been boarded the engines shunted one half of the train to join the other, and off we went.

The suburbs of Sydney continued for close to an hour and as the sun set we traversed the Blue Mountains, which as it turns out are not actually mountains at all.  More a plateau, interspersed with dramatic deep canyons.  The forests of eucalyptus trees on the landscape give off a natural chemical that creates a bluish haze over the region and hence the name "Blue Mountains".

Settling in - cabin in daytime mode

Settled in our cabin we enjoyed the passing scenery through picture windows on both sides of the train. Our steward brought a pre-dinner platter of cheese, olives and figs, complimented by a very pleasant chilled Australian white.

A three course dinner, with a main course of lamb shanks, followed in the Queen Adelaide Restaurant and was much enjoyed in conversation with fellow travellers on this epic journey across the continent.

Cabin prepared for bedtime

In the meantime our cabin had been converted into comfortable sleeping quarters.  A night cap, chocolate and tickets for the next day's off train excursions awaited.

The rattling of the rails and the side to side movement of the train whisked us off to sleep in no time. Tomorrow we would arrive early in Broken Hill on the western edge of New South Wales for a short stop and later in the day, Adelaide, capital of South Australia.